Friction-clutch.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT DE DION AND GEORGES BOUTON, OF PUTEAUX, FRANCE.

FRlCTlON-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT DE DION, gentleman, and GEORGES BOUTON, engineer, citizens of the French Republic, residing at Puteaux, Department of Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches', of which the following is a specification.

Most of the friction-clutches in use have the serious defect that the rubbing surface of at least one of the parts of the clutch .is made of leather, a material which when heated becomes disintegrated or burns. If it be desired to employ metallic surfaces for both members of the clutch and if these surfaces be kept dry, a seizing or binding of the surfaces soon takes place. To avoid this, the surfaces are caused to rub on each other in oil. This oil, however, becomes heated and burns, leaving injurious residues. The adoption of this arrangement necessitates the use of a clutch-spring of increased power, because the coefficient of friction is greatly decreased vby the interposition of the lubricant, or, again, it is necessar to multiply the rubbing surfaces, which ren ers the working parts ofthe clutch heavier and unsuitable for ap lication to motor-cars fitted with sliding `ifferential gear permitting of the differential gear being driven direct from the motor. This invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a self-lubricating clutch.

The invention consists in inserting blocks of graphite or graphitic carbon in one or both of the surfaces that are to be brou ht in contact, the proportion of the meta ic surface to the lubricating-surface being regulatable, so as to obtain a gradual-action clutch. This invention consists in the ap lication to clutches of an invention alreadly known as applied to the bearings of shafts. This means of ubrication requires no attendance, as the lubrication is effected by the working of the mechanism itself.

The accompanying drawings show an aplication of the invention to a friction-clutch ldescribed in the application for United States Letters Patent, Serial N o. 250,319, filed March 15, 1905.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section 0f a friction-clutch. Fig. 2 is a partial view of the rubbing disk.

The disk 1, fixed on the driven shaft 2, is mounted between two disks 3 and 4, which are rotated at the same speed as the drivingshaft 5. During the coupling and during the disconnecting the disk 1 rubs for a few moments against the disks 3 and 4. Blocks of graphite or graphitic carbon 6 7 are inserted in the disks 3 and 4. These blocks insure a dry lubrication by the working of the mechanism itself. The size, sha e, and number of the blocks may be mod' ed as required, and they may be inserted in the disk 1 or in the three disks 3, 4, and l.

Havin thus described and ascertained the nature o our invention and in what manner the same may be performed, we declare that what we claim iso,

A friction-clutch having a contact-surface composed of alternations of metal and lubricating material, the lubricating material consisting in blocks of graphite or graphitic car--fl bon inserted in the surface to be brought in contact, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT DE DION. GEORGES BOUTON. 

